by Jude Marquez
“What?” Evander asked and Alyx adored his confusion and his aching want so clear in his eyes. “You're right, I forgot the oil," he murmured. He leaped from the bed, completely naked and Alyx would be a liar if he said he didn't enjoy the view, if he didn't love watching the play of muscle in Evander's ass and legs and remembered his own hands on the thick muscle of Evander's backside. He slipped beneath the blankets and sheets on the bed as Evander searched for a few moments. Finally, he turned, victorious.
“You're forgetting something else," Alyx said.
Evander stood in front of him, a glass vial in one hand, confusion clear on his face. “What?”
“Were you ever going to actually propose or did you merely take advantage of the fact that I adore you and assume that I would say yes?” Alyx asked, a mock threat in his voice. He didn’t recognize this confidence in himself. The Alyx raised in Elewisa’s house would never say such things to the Crown Prince. But that Alyx would probably never be naked in the Prince’s bed either.
“...yes?” Evander guessed. He tossed the vial on the bed and then crawled up the length until he was hovering over Alyx, his knees pinning Alyx’s lower body beneath the blankets. “Would you like a grand statement, Alyx? Would you like me on my knees in front of the court? On a balcony in front of the entire kingdom? Name it, I'll do it," Evander swore. “Just say you are mine.”
The power of having the future king granting him anything would have overwhelmed a lesser man. But Alyx glimpsed the man underneath the king and he didn't want the wealth or the power, although those were nice too. What he wanted was Evander and would take him poor and powerless if that's who he was.
“No,” Alyx murmured and searched Evander's eyes. He cupped Evander's face in his hands. “No, what I want is Evander De Loughrey to say the words. I don't want the Crown Prince to swear his love in front of thousands. I just want Evander to tell me the words.”
Evander nuzzled Alyx's hand and kissed his palm.
“Alyx, you were written in the stars for me. From the moment I met you until the moment you woke up in my bed and looked at me more honestly than anyone I met in my life, I swore that no one could make me feel the things you do. I want to fall asleep with you at my side, I want to rule this kingdom with you, I want to wake up knowing that I have another day to love you," Evander sat up, straddled Alyx and threw his arms wide open. “Alyx, you were sent from the heavens for me!” He yelled and Alyx clapped a hand over his own mouth to prevent a giggle. “I will yell it from the rooftops!” The door was thrown open and Gabrien and Geoffrey stumbled in, Elyes and Aldous on their heels. Gael stumbled over Aldous who was standing there, gaping at Evander.
“I will tell everyone that can hear me that I belong to Alyx Reimund! That in this life and the next there is no one but Alyx for Evander De Loughrey," Evander hauled Alyx into a sitting position and sat down heavily on his thighs. He put his forehead to Alyx's and let out a breath. “I can live and die a happy man knowing that I have loved you as well and as much as I could.”
“Is he drunk?” Gabrien whispered. They all seemed completely unbothered by Evander's obvious lack of clothing.
“He didn't touch his wine at dinner," Gael whispered back.
Aldous wiped at his face. “The fool went and fell in love.”
“If you will have me, I am yours," Alyx murmured.
Evander kissed him again, cradled him as though he were precious. “Mine is yours.”
“Everything I can give you, within my power, is yours," Alyx promised.
“Oh, hell," Aldous huffed and threw his hands in the air. He had to wipe at his face again.
Gael ushered everyone from the room.
After that, it was a blur of Evander's lips on his skin, his hands tracing the muscle of Evander's body. “I am yours, I am yours-” Alyx moaned. Evander licked the words off his lips, swore all the promises that he knew, swallowed Alyx's cries for his own.
Later, when Evander lay with his head on Alyx's chest, listened to his heartbeat, Alyx committed the night to memory.
“I have never been in love before," Alyx murmured.
“Nor I," Evander said.
“But you have experience," Alyx said.
“Does that bother you?” Evander murmured.
“I wish not to displease you," Alyx said.
“You could never displease me. And I am an excellent teacher. I believe I have found in you my star pupil," Evander murmured.
Alyx closed his eyes. “I know what my favorite subject is," Alyx said.
Evander chuckled and they drifted off once more.
∞∞∞
The next morning after breakfast, Alyx caught Gael as he left the hall, rushing to his own wing to speak to the generals there.
“Gael!” Alyx called out.
Gael paused and turned. He brightened when he saw that it was Alyx. He loved as his brother did; fiercely and loyally. Alyx knew that if there was one who could prove their worth to the Crown Prince, it meant that they were equal in Gael's mind.
“Walk with me," Gael said and gestured to the hall. In a swirl of silks, Auelina was there as well, slipping her arm through Gael's and Cade joined their group.
“I was wondering if I could ask you something," Alyx began slowly. He felt strange asking even more of the De Loughreys.
Gael's grin widened. “Ask it, Alyx, and I will see that it is done. I have never seen Evander so happy. You are the cause of it.”
Alyx ducked his head. “He is the best man that I could have asked for.”
“You sicken me," Auelina said cheerfully.
Gael patted her hand.
“I wish to learn how to fight," Alyx said. Gael stopped abruptly, dragging Auelina to a stop with him. Alyx' forward motion made him stop a few steps after and he turned to face them. The three younger De Loughreys looked terrified.
“I have to go... sew... something," Auelina said and left.
Alyx stared at her retreating back.
Cade turned and ran after her. He didn't even offer an explanation.
“I-” Gael said. He looked up to the heavens. “Should I die without having married Lady Cordelia, I will haunt you for the rest of your life.”
“Why would you die?” Alyx asked, confused.
“Because Evander will kill me if I teach you how to fight," Gael hissed.
“So you will?” Alyx asked.
Gael sighed and changed course. He saw Ely and waved at him. He gave Ely his papers and straightened up. “Come," Gael said.
They ended up behind Edward's small shack, with the old man looking on in a decidedly judgmental way. Other than him, there was no one else around.
“Have you held a sword before?” Gael asked and handed him one.
“Never," Alyx said and tested the weight in his hand. It was heavier than he thought it would be.
“Okay, so we will start with the basics," Gael said. “A defense move called binding. We'll start with the soft binding. You lift your sword to block mine but do not try to power it back into me,” he moved back and brought a slow arcing attack, “Rather, let the blade down as you move out from under it and away.”
Alyx nodded and moved to bring up his own sword.
When he did though, he felt a sharp ache, a burning chill down the length of his arm, that stabbed and ached and Alyx gasped and dropped the sword.
Gael immediately sheathed his own sword and stepped forward but Edward beat him to it.
“What is it?” Edward demanded.
“When I lifted the sword, I felt-” Alyx stumbled over the words.
“Like someone shoved a two foot long nail up your arm?” Edward guessed.
“Yes," Alyx whispered.
“Do you mind?” Edward asked and gestured to Alyx's shoulder. He shook his head and Edward tugged his shirt aside and laid his rough fingers against the tendons and muscles at Alyx's shoulder and neck.
“Hmph," He said and tugged Alyx's shirt back in place. “Just what I thought. Tha
t dirty old cunt you used to live with-”
Gael snorted under his breath.
“Did she do something here?” Edward asked.
Alyx remembered a shard of glass and Gilbert stitching him together after. He nodded.
“Saw the same thing happen to a young soldier in the first war. Poor kid never was able to bear the weight of a broadsword again.”
Alyx rubbed the tender spot on his shoulder. “So I won't learn to defend myself," Alyx muttered, an old anger cresting in his chest. Even dead, Elewisa’s actions followed him.
“Not with a sword. Too heavy," Edward said with a shrug and turned to his shack. Alyx considered that the end of their conversation but Edward returned a moment later. He had in his hand two short blades, longer than daggers and deadly looking. Their gleam in the sun was enticing.
“These, on the other hand..." Edward nodded to himself. “These, I believe will do nicely. Gael get your ass out of here. You don't know how to do this. I'll teach the kid.”
“Sure, Edward,” Gael said and left with a bright smile at them. He seemed relieved that he did not have to teach Alyx.
Edward handed one of the blades to Alyx.
Alyx tested the weight of them. “Where did you get these?” He asked.
“Damnedest thing, I have no idea where they came from.” Edward muttered.
“You can teach me?” Alyx asked.
“Kid, this is just the beginning,” Edward said and Alyx wasn't sure if he trusted the grin on his face.
Chapter Eleven
“Are you in a rush to be married?” Gia asked a few weeks later, as they strolled the gardens. Alyx’s days were filled with the children and private lessons from Edward. His nights belonged to Evander, wrapped up in his embrace. After a few embarrassing moments, the guards and knights outside his door had learned to tell the difference between Evander beckoning them and Evander expressing something else.
Edward’s lessons were sometimes excruciating and after the first few, he recruited different people from around the castle for Alyx to spar. He made them swear on the pain of torture not to breathe a word of their works to anyone not present at the sparring practices and from the wide eyed look they gave Edward, Alyx knew they believed him.
Edward was surprised at the pace of Alyx’s learning but quickly took advantage of it, learning when to push Alyx to the edge of his physical limits and when to let him rest. Despite his gruffness, Edward was a good man and a competent teacher. Sometimes Cade would show up to the practices and sometimes Gael would too but when they both learned that they would also be participating their visits became sparse.
On this day, Edward had told him that he would be busy and that they would be unable to practice until a later time. Gia found him underneath the pear tree he was so fond of, a book in hand, and requested he walk with her.
“I am with the Prince no matter our marital status,” Alyx replied. They both watched as Evander and his knights raced into the woods. To Alyx it looked like play but Evander assured him that it was war practice.
Alyx was not sure he believe him.
“As far as ceremony goes, I am more at your behest,” Alyx said, once the last of the knights disappeared.
Gia sighed and slipped a hand through Alyx's arm. “After dinner tonight, I need to speak to all of my children.”
Alyx patted her hand. “I will inform Auelina."
“You as well, Alyx,” She said. Her eyes were bright when she looked at him. “I speak of you as well.”
“Your Majesty-” Alyx said and ducked his head.
“It is no easy feat, being the object of my son's affections. He loves so much and has so much to give. That is why he will be a good ruler. He can love his people unselfishly and unconditionally. He was born to be King,” she paused. “But to be the singular object of his affection can be cloying at times.”
“I love that he does nothing by halves,” Alyx said. “It is all or nothing and I feel the same about him although I lack the manners and the ideas and the words, I love him so much that I fear I will break from it.”
Gia patted his hand. “That is why it is you, Alyx. Because you do not break.”
Alyx left her at her door and headed for another lesson with Edward.
When he was there, he was surprised to see Geoffrey and Elyes leaning against the fence. They looked equally as surprised.
“What are you doing here?” Elyes asked.
“I-” Alyx started.
“I'm teaching him a thing or two and the two of you will be keeping your mouths shut about it or I'll be spreading rumors around the village about mysterious rashes on your private areas, are we clear?” Edward snapped.
“We can't-” Geoffrey said.
“He is betrothed to the future king. Our king!” Elyes protested.
“Who will kill us if there is so much as a scratch on Alyx!” Geoffrey added.
“I would rather be scratched by the two of you then killed by one of Thomas's,” Alyx said quietly.
“Oh, for fuck's sake,” Geoffrey muttered and looked down. “Goddamn it,” he muttered.
Elyes looked murderous. “You put our future king's safety against our lives and the Crown Prince's temper,” he accused.
Edward shrugged. “Get then, if you two don't have the balls. I can find someone who does,” he waved them off and jerked his head into the shack. “Come on, Alyx, there is something else I'd like to show you. New acquisition, if you'd like to call it-” Alyx made to Edward's shack, comfortable there as he is in the castle now.
“Who?” Geoffrey asked.
“Hm?” Edward asked, as though he just remembered their presence. “Oh, not to worry. I can find someone. Go, then.”
“If it's not us, none will be able to reassure Alyx's safety. Indulge them,” Geoffrey hissed at Elyes, “And he might learn a thing or two.”
Edward glanced at Alyx who composed his face into impassivity. Edward only looked slightly amused.
“We'll do it,” Elyes ground out. “But only us and none other,” he took a deep breath. “And the Prince must not know of it.”
Edward snorted. “No one knew of this before.”
Edward took advantage of Alyx's natural skill set, his ability to blend in, his quiet nature, and his instincts, honed to a fine edge throughout a lifetime of saving his own hide from a beating. He gestured to their makeshift ring, the training ground he used for his pups, surrounded by a low fence. Alyx stepped over it, stood in the middle.
Geoffrey and Elyes exchanged glances and Elyes unbuckled his light sparring armor, slung it over a fence. Geoffrey did the same. Neither saw Alyx as a serious threat. They joined Alyx inside the fence. Elyes and Geoffrey exchanged a glance and unsheathed their swords. Alyx loosened his stance and kept his eyes forward, lowered to the ground. He hunched his shoulders inward. Edward encouraged his habit of making himself seem smaller and weaker than he actually was.
“Attack,” Edward said softly.
War hardened lieutenants in Evander's army, having seen more than their fair shares of battle, saw a sheep waiting only for a slaughter. They both rushed in and Alyx stepped back, threw Elyes into Geoffrey, waited for the inevitable stumble that brought Geoffrey too close to him. When he did, he found the tip of Alyx's blade at his neck.
“Out,” Alyx murmured and stepped back.
“What-” Geoffrey murmured.
“You heard him. Get your ass out of that ring,” Edward snapped.
Elyes was a more wary fighter and chose his moves more carefully. He knew of Alyx's blade now and stayed further than Alyx's reach.
But Alyx was more patient, could be more patient than any man, and Elyes was a soldier first, used to action, preferring to be on the offense. He made the mistake eventually and ended up on his back for his trouble, Alyx's other blade pressed to his neck.
Edward nodded. “Good,” he paused. “What could you have done better?”
“Taken them both down in three fewer moves,” Alyx said and
spun the blade in his hand, picked up the other and slid them into the holsters that strapped to his forearms and were easily hidden by his sleeves.
Edward nodded. “You two can go,” he said to Geoffrey and Elyes. They picked up their armor as they left and Edward called after them, “And next time, do better!”
They grumbled a reply.
Edward laughed.
“I cannot stay for a longer lesson today,” Alyx said.
“Why's that?” Edward asked and offered Alyx a piece of dried meat from a packet he kept close by. Alyx took it and the flask of water on the fence.
“The Queen requests my presence along with the royal family. I have to be presentable.”
“The royal family,” Edward said.
“And me, yes,” Alyx said.
“No, she requested the presence of the royal family. Period,” Edward looked at Alyx with a mixture of fondness and irritation.
Alyx nodded and left and raised his hand in goodbye. He was in the bath when he heard Evander stomp in and was glad that Knight was out in the yard.
“Alyx?” He called. There was a tension in his voice that Alyx could hear a mile away.
“Here!” Alyx called out. He stood and reached for his robe, went into the room where Evander was attempting to pry off the lighter leather armor he wore to spar. “Are you well?” He asked and ran a hand through Evander's sweat drenched hair.
“Thomas's armies push farther into our lands,” Evander muttered and Alyx began to unbuckle his armor. He didn't want Alyx's words or advice on how to deal with Thomas. He wanted to someone to listen. Alyx was thankful because he knew nothing of war and men and armies. “He torched a border village, took our people for slaves.”
Alyx winced at the news. His fingers worked the sweat soaked tunic free and over Evander's shoulders. He threw it into the basket where the servants picked up their soiled linens.
“They say that soldiers live for war,” Evander murmured and stood so that Alyx could work his belt off of him and laid his sword aside on a nearby table, “But I dread nothing more.”